Archive for the ‘Mandala Mondays’ Category

The holiday is fast approaching and I find myself doing the dance between wanting to “do more” for others and allowing myself the experience of surrendering to “enough”.

I’m not a mall gal, thank goodness, yet I feel myself getting caught up in the frenetic pace of trying to send out cards, mail out packages, make sure that all the gifts are wrapped, and the dinner accoutrements are purchased before the grocery stores close.

Ummm, it’s just not the Creativity Queen’s natural tendency to be so efficient and organized – that is why I married the Royal Creativity King (its like having my own personal Boy Scout)!

I digress… so daily mandala making gets squished into the day and although I find myself struggling to find time (more like a to-do these days) when I eventually pick up the markers, and surrender, I find such great peace in the process.

I hope you continue to surrender to what is, letting go of the expectations and always returning to self- love. Truly there is nothing more. In the meantime, enjoy the journey and happy art making (and holidays too)!

It’s Mandala Monday!! Yippee! I made the leap to daily mandalas 2 week ago and I’ve found myself relishing the process, especially when stress and overwhelm starts to creep in. Here’s what I’ve discovered in the process:

1. It’s easy to put aside something your doing for yourself because of other things (and people) you can to attend to. I can easily get distracted and do something else, but I keep reminding myself of the bigger why..’calm, centered, self-discovery’. I choose (again and again) to carve out the time to self-honor and when I do, the feeling is so delicious!! The days I don’t do it, I forgive and try again. No mandala self-flagellation here!

2. There were a few times these last few weeks when my blood was boiling, and when I took the time to do a mandala before I responded I found myself feeling more calm and level headed. I seriously need to tell someone the next time I’m upset, “Wait a minute I have to make a mandala before we can talk”, and walk around with an art pad tucked in my pocket- seriously!

3. Emotions come up when I give myself permission to sit and feel every day for 15-30 minutes. Surrender, surrender, surrender..isn’t that life in essence?

4. I purchased a new mandala book, and pull out my favorite art supplies. I had noticed in the past I had been saving the ‘good art supplies’ for working with others. So I claim the colorful box of $60 chalk pastel as ‘Mine’; acknowledging that every action of claiming my abundance allows more to flow back into my life- plus it feels oh sooo delightful to play with such rich and vibrant colors.

What have you discovered in the process? If you haven’t joined the Mandala Monday club, you can do so. Just make a circle and see what you create from it. Please feel free to share what you discover:)

Okay, it’s the holiday season and often this causes great chaos and imbalance, since a ‘normal routine’ gets a bit jumbled with holiday gatherings, and lots of rushing about to get things done.

As I was reflecting I realized that one of the most calming periods I can remember in recent years was during the period where I was doing daily mandalas. There was something so purging and calming during those months where my daily practice involved centering with art before I stepped into the busyness of the days.

So I invite you to join me on a delicious journey back to self. I will be making mandalas daily, and although it may not be possible to create your daily mandala, I invite you to join me on Mondays as we celebrate ‘Monday Mandalas’.

Here’s the Mandala De Jour

“Cracked Wide Open”

Please share your mandala links, your artwork, and your centering rituals as we move joyously into a season of centered celebration!